Managing core network services in complex, dynamic enterprise network environments is a daunting task. Currently data is created and maintained by different teams at different times with different data-collection objectives. IT teams using disparate tools and data sources burden the OPEX budget with inefficient workflow processes, less-than-optimum resource utilization, and an increased risk of introducing errors.
Advanced IPAM with Network Insight
Infoblox Network Insight, a key component of the Infoblox DDI product suite, brings unprecedented visibility to the IPAM solution and enables integrated workflows that are shorter, more accurate, and based on an authoritative collection of data. Infoblox DDI with Network Insight improves visibility and operational efficiencies, resulting in better resource utilization and lower operational costs.
Gain Unprecedented Visibility into Your Network
Access an authoritative, integrated database of protocol, IP address, network infrastructure device, end-host, connectivity, and port data—breaking down operational silos in IT. The collection and correlation of this data provides unprecedented visibility, helping administrators easily gather information, analyze it, then take the appropriate actions to better manage their networks, validate designs, and effectively provision, troubleshoot, and deliver network services. Network Insight reduces security and service interruption risk through the detection of rogue devices, errors, and unmanaged devices and networks that go unseen in standard IPAM tools. Network Insight’s comprehensive inventory of switch ports makes port-resource management easy.
Vastly Improve Operational Efficiencies
Streamline operations with integrated workflows. Provision, troubleshoot, and remediate errors, and manage and control switch ports from a single UI. Network Insight’s aggregated collection of network data improves decision-making and network operations by delivering actionable information, automation, and controls. Granular role-based administration, coupled with automation and control, enables IT teams to delegate tasks to less-expensive human resources such as support teams in order to free up expensive resources for more strategic engagements.
Business Benefits
• Get Detailed Visibility across the Network
Discover all layer-2 andlayer-3 devices, end-hosts,connectivity, switch-port, andVLAN data. See into VRF andNAT’d space.
• Improve Operational Efficiency
• Automate controls to improveworkflow cadence.
• Allocate IP addresses andports from a single UI.
• Directly control portadministration status.
• Better Manage IT Resources
Use built-in controls andautomatic auditing todelegate and free up high- paid human resources formore strategic work.
• Reduce ServiceInterruption Risk
• Easily validate networkdesigns.
• Easily identify misconfigurednetworks, switches, and misplaced servers.
• Expansion
Handle M & A without networkoutages from overlapping IPaddresses, lost knowledge, ormissing network architecturedocumentation.
• Cross-Functional Harmony
When security, server,and network teams sharetrusted data they can makequick, reliable decisions,delegate tasks, and eliminatedepartmental dependencies.
Use built-in controls to ensure that your network is connected and running just the way you designed it. Compare planned changes with discovered results. Network Insight’s single source of network infrastructure, end-host, connectivity, and core network services data delivers more efficient workflows across IT teams, reducing time, effort, and errors. Automatic detection of IP address and port usage information improves accuracy. A conflict is flagged when a reserved port or IP address is discovered to be associated with something other than what the original reservation called for. Such accurate data supports “Use next” for ports and IP addresses, making provisioning simple and refined.
Key Product Features
Comprehensive, Tunable Network Discovery Gathering up-to-date Infrastructure and device data enables the network team to see and take action on networks and devices that are not currently managed within the IPAM database; you can’t manage what you don’t see. Comprehensive switch-port data refines the management of port resources as well as enabling “Use next available port” and “port reservation” features. Tunable discovery allows network teams to create schedules to “black out” discovery and switch-port operations by network in support of critical uptime and response requirements.
Authoritative Network DatabaseA single collection point for viewing protocol, network infrastructure (layer-2 and layer-3 devices), end-host, connectivity, switch-port, and all related IP data empowers IT to reduce mean time to repair (MTTR), exclude the network as a root cause, and confidently automate processes.
Integrated Workflows Network management involves a wide variety of tasks that can be simplified by having access to all the necessary data for getting the work done from a single user interface. By integrating discovery, port control, and permission request features into the workflows for managing core network services, multistep processes that leverage templates and automation help admins perform more efficiently with the necessary checks and balances that ensure accuracy.
Grid MemberNetwork Insight’s Network Data (ND) Appliances are fully integrated Infoblox Grid™ members. Grid appliances are linked using sophisticated distributed database technology. This unified system provides a single point of management and seamless updates with zero downtime, with built-in security and resiliency.
Device Tab in the DDI GUI
The Device Tab in the DDI interface displays all level-2 and level-3 devices along with all the important parameters. By selecting a device, users can drill down to see the interfaces, networks, IP addresses, ports, VLANs, and end hosts associated with it.
The Infoblox user interface has a variety of dashboard widgets that provide users with a quick overview of situations on their networks. Network Insight’s comprehensive inventory of switch-ports and their current status is shown on the new switch-port dashboard widget—a perfect way to quickly understand the current state of an important network asset.
Network Insight and the Infoblox Reporting Appliance
Network Insight’s rich addition to the IPAM database is reported on in various ways. The reporting server includes specific reports that provide valuable information on the historical usage of switch-ports. Two such reports, Port Capacity by Device and Port Capacity Delta by Device, provide the type of historical information that helps network administrators optimize their switch-port resources.
The standard hardware warranty is for a period of one year. The system software has a 90-day warranty that will meet published specifi-cations. Optional service products are also available that extend the hardware and software warranty. These products are recommended to ensure the appliance is kept updated with the latest software enhancements and to ensure the security and availability of the system. Professional services and training courses are also available from Infoblox. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Infoblox Inc. assumes no responsibility for errors that appear in this document.
Corporate Headquarters: +1.408.986.4000 1.866.463.6256 (toll-free, U.S. and Canada) [email protected] www.infoblox.com
Flexible Configuration Options to Match Network Strategy
Whether network planners use a centralized approach or a distributed architecture, Network Insight ND Appliances can be configured to fit any networking strategy and are part of the Infoblox Grid. The ND Appliance has two modes: consolidator and probe. A single ND Appliance is by default the consolidator performing both data collection and the storage and compilation of device and network data. When subsequent ND Appliances are added, they become probes. There is only one consolidator ND Appliance on the Grid. Once a network probe has been added, the consolidator’s data collection function is disabled but continues to act as centralized storage and compilation of device and network data.
